Saint Joseph Catholic Church

“He firmly stood as a pillar of orthodox truth,” said Father Michael Banjo, secretary general of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, the administrative arm of the bishops’ conference. “His voice did not tickle ears but fed souls, bringing to light his episcopal motto: ‘Ut Testimonium perhibeam veritati’ (Jn 18:37), which means ‘That I may bear witness to the Truth.’”

“He demonstrated always by his gentleness and quiet disposition that genuine authority in the church is not measured by power but by service and this was a result of his deep level of spirituality,” Father Banjo added.

Archbishop Akubeze was appointed founding bishop of Uromi in 2005 and archbishop of Benin City in 2011.

The Vatican newspaper drew attention to the dire situation of Sudanese civilians in and around El-Obeid, a strategic city in the nation’s civil war.

“Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan to teach his disciples that they have a duty to those who differ from them in terms of religious belief and cultural tradition,” said Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh and Anglican Archbishop John McDowell. “Jesus teaches that people who differ from us are not simply to be tolerated; they are to be respected, cared for and loved.”

“The targeting of the Muslim community through crude symbols and threats of violence by sinister forces undermines these Gospel principles of respect and compassion as well as freedom of religion which is a fundamental principle of a democratic society,” the prelates continued, adding:

Christians of all traditions would be aghast at the wanton destruction of Christian imagery. Likewise, we should be appalled at the provocative denigration of symbols associated with faiths that are sincerely held by others.